The Steampunk Console Project

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The Steampunk Console Project

I can't believe that it's been more than four months since I've added anything to this journal account. Though some small progress has been made, it's not been nearly as much as I'd hoped. It just seems that whenever I attempt anything like this, a thousand obstacles and distractions begin coming from every direction. And, of course, it's just like that for many of us... but it still shouldn't be.Hopefully, I can give an account of what I have done within the next few ( or several ) days. For now... here, at least, is a preliminary 3D rendering ( in trueSpace ) showing something of what this project may... eventually... end up looking like.

Well... maybe not the room. But as for the console itself, most of the electronics, materials, and hardware have finally been acquired.

Re: Steampunk Console

true about the coral look.... but it *is* canon that the TARDISes were mainly grown from coral.... still I'd love for them to redo the sets a bit... maybe they'll take your hints ;) a nice gritty, dark-gothy victorian motif would be quite appropriate also

Re: Steampunk Console

yes... I saw that in the "Journey's End" episode... I think. But is that canon according to somewhere in the the original series that I've never seen... or canon according to Russell Davies ( including the bit about being able to grow a new TARDIS from a chunk of the old... heh! )?

To me (... anyway... and for various reasons... ) it would make more sense to say that it was grown from a mysterious Gallifreyan substance that has the capacity to take on the properties of any other known substance... including coral.

Fantastic!

I love your build Idea! That is exactly the route i was going to take on my build. I love the steampunk look for a TARDIS control panel. I got tied down on a child size control panel for my son first. Once that is done, I hope to make a full size build with a combo of Steampunk and futuristic controls. Keep up the good work. Look forward to the completed project.

Re: Fantastic!

(Anonymous)

8/15/09 10:20 am (UTC)

Stunning stuff... the TVM's approach seems amateurish compared to this. Would love to see more renders of the console room in its entirety too. One thing - have you considered posting on The TARDIS Rebuilders forum (http://tardisboard.proboards.com/)? This is exactly the sort of thing that forum was created for, and they may be able to give you advice or assistance should you need it.

Re: Fantastic!

jwotso, Thanks! And I'll try to get back to chronicling some details about this project. I know I can't claim to be an expert in craftsmanship, but hopefully at least some of this information will be of assistance in your own project. And please feel free to make some suggestions, as one of the main reasons for this journal is to generate a little discussion on this topic.

Anon, it may be awhile before I make any improvements to the current render, but I have uploaded a slightly larger version of it for viewing.Also, I wanted to get a bit farther along on this project before posting anything on The TARDIS Rebuilders forum, in order to be as concise and coherent ( hopefully ) about it as possible. But then, maybe I could drop by and at least post a picture or two.Again, I appreciate your comments.

Very Tesla

(Anonymous)

8/30/09 01:27 am (UTC)

SHADOWS OF MY SOULBY Sean R. Meaney

CHAPTER 1: FANCY A TRIP AROUND THE UNIVERSE?

LONDON 1895 + 5 DAYS LOCAL TIME SINCE LAST VISIT

The TARDIS materialized in the narrow alley off Baker Street. "Here we are." The Doctor's new assistant stared at him with surprise. "I thought we were going to some alien world to watch the setting of five suns...or something." The Doctor shook his head. "Jelly Babies!" The red haired girl stared at him. "Jelly Babies?" Doctor nodded with an insane smile. "Jelly Babies...I found the most amazing shop during a visit to Baker Street in eighteen ninety five." "We are...Jelly Babies!" She was almost ashamed to be on what was apparently now a trip to the shops. The Doctor looked back at her from the exit.“The Shops...?” Karen wondered to herself if he frequents Pompeii just for the pickled eggs."Not just any Shop...A wonderful little confectioner who makes Jelly babies from Turkish delight and in assorted flavours and colours." The Doctor stepped from the Door of the TARDIS into the city of London.“What year is it?” Karen was just realizing that her silver radiation suit would be a little inappropriate.“Eighteen ninety five plus five days local time since my last visit.” The Doctor took a moment to breathe in the Sunlight.“So...you’re a regular customer?”The two pronged fork penetrated both hearts as it pushed though his chest killing him instantly. Karen screamed his name. The young assailant walked over to the body and put a boot on the Doctor's Chest, pulling the impaling Fork free. The Doctor was dead. Karen collapsed over his body and fell back again with blood on her hands."That's my name. Don’t wear it out...although I'm thinking of changing it to The Master." The young murderer smiled to himself. "Yes...I think the Master will do nicely." The young Master grabbed Karen by the face and pushed her back into the TARDIS dragging her from the entrance. Her scream was cut off as the door pulled shut and the engine roared to life.A crowd of people gathered where an alley met Baker Street, about the body of a young man who had apparently been stabbed in the chest by an unknown assailant. Somewhere nearby, a police whistle blew.

LONDON 2010 + 85 DAYS LOCAL TIME SINCE LAST VISIT

Rose halted and stared at it. The TARDIS sat open in the dark alleyway - Inviting. She smiled at the proposal. He's offering me...what? Rose Tyler walked toward the Blue Police Box. "All right you...Doctor?" Rose vanished through the Door of the TARDIS with a scream of horror. Blood sprayed against the Door of the Police Box and it snapped closed. The Light flickered with the wretched cyclic noise of a Gallifreyan Time and Space Displacement Engine greased and oiled with human tallow.Beyond the now Gothic horror that was the console, the naked, preserved Skins of Sarah Jane Smith, Jo Grant, and many other assistants were displayed for the viewing pleasure of a God of Time gone mad with eternity. The Sonic Screwdriver pulverized the Bone of the skull allowing the brain of Rose Tyler to be lifted easily from the cavity, eyes dangling as it was lowered into a jar and connected with probes linking it to the temporal targeting array. A voice: "I love you Rose..."

Re: Very Tesla

Well, thanks for the comparison... in the subject line... to Tesla. And for the suggestion of lending it to amateur filming efforts.

However, I'm one of those people who feels there's just too much of the gross-out horror type of violence being depicted for the sake of pure sensationalism, in some movies and on TV, these days. Particularly since much of it is basically aimed at portraying women as victims. So I wouldn't likely be very comfortable with lending any support to a production like this.

Notice that the New Series often gives the female characters the opportunity to be equal partners in the heroics. And, even in some American shows like "Alias" and "Fringe", and now even "CSI", women are allowed to take lead roles as heroines. Much better... much healthier.

Finally, please notice that this journal is hopefully for the purpose of documenting and discussing various technical aspects of crafting such projects as this one. Not for individuals to quote, or more likely post their own fan-fiction efforts ( ...well, except for... maybe... my own ). There are other forums for just that purpose.

But... I am also firmly against censorship. So I will let this post stand... if for no other reason than as an example of what I mean for those who actually enjoy the Series and perhaps even like the characters.

"the now Gothic horror that was the console"? .... you ain't seen nothin' yet!

Re: Lovely

Thanks! And, yes, I'd happily lend it to them... provided they're careful with it... and they provide me with a free trip to London ( or... would that be Cardiff?... )!Also, I am thinking of releasing the render model... but it will most likely be in trueSpace format.

Re: seems to me...

Well, I didn't really want to throw out the whole computer just to have a new desktop. I think you might find, though, that in this case the difference is in the details.

Fair enough, in the comparison to the McGann console ( the retextured new series console room for the render was done just for convenience and continuity ). If you look at a picture of the McGann console itself, though...

...you'll notice that it's "instrumentation" layout is really rather sparse. And, yes... you may also notice that they thought of using glass railroad insulators as panel lamps first.

But... for various reasons... I have absolutely no qualms whatsoever about "borrowing" a little inspiration from the Fox Network design ( ...take that, Mr. Former Fox Network CEO, whose family hails from my own hometown, and some of whose family, friends, and especially cronies, worked where I used to work... ).

You know, you should make the picture a little smaller, so the top of the column is shown, little more of the floor (even the other sides), so it can be put as a backdrop for a Character Options TARDIS!

PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just a little motivation, as you've motivated me to start writing again!